www.kent.edu/theatredance
THEATRE AND DANCE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS The School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University offers comprehensive programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts.
The breadth of the program is suggested by its course offerings, which cover the areas in theatre of acting, directing, musical theatre, theatre history, criticism, script analysis, playwriting, technical production, scenery, lighting, costume design, make-up and theatre management. In dance, studies include modern dance, ballet, jazz, dance composition, dance education, dance history, dance notation and dance science. The school is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the National Association of Schools of Dance.
Description of Programs The Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre studies offers a traditional liberal arts program with a major emphasis in theatre. Concentrations are available in performance, production, theatre management and theatre and society. Students pursuing the B.A. might pursue careers in secondary education; go on to graduate study in performance, design, management or scholarship; or use their skills in a wide variety of allied fields. No audition is required to enter the B.A. program in theatre. The Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies provides students with a solid foundation in dance techniques and dance academics while allowing flexibility to incorporate another area or minor. The degree program encourages exploration of areas that can be combined with dance to enhance opportunities for future employment. The B.A. in dance requires an audition. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is designed for students planning careers in professional theatre and dance venues or preparing for advanced study in performance or design. A significant commitment to intensive specialization is demanded of all students pursuing the B.F.A. In theatre, students choose a concentration in one of two areas: design/technology or musical theatre. Students planning to pursue the design/technology program may apply and be admitted directly into the BFA program. Progress toward the degree is closely monitored by the faculty through end-of-year reviews, and continuation in each successive year is based both on artistic and academic criteria. Admission to the B.F.A. musical theatre program requires a successful audition in each of three performing areas: dance, music and theatre. Students audition prior to their freshman year and must display talent and training potential in each of the three areas. Students in the program are expected to pass specially prepared proficiency examinations in all three discipline areas at the end of their freshman, sophomore and junior years. Contact the Theatre Division for additional audition information. Each of the B.F.A. programs requires students to participate regularly in performance and production activities in the school.
The B.F.A. in dance performance is designed for students aspiring to be dance professionals. Technique classes in modern dance, jazz and ballet are strongly supported by courses in composition, dance theory, dance history and movement sciences. Additional coursework in theatre augments the performance aspects of this major. Auditions for acceptance to the major are held during the fall and spring semesters. Contact the Dance Division for specific audition requirements. The school offers minors in dance, dance accompaniment, theatre performance, management, costume, lighting and scenery and sound design and technology.
Scholarships Theatre and dance majors are eligible for scholarships and other forms of financial assistance from a variety of sources. Creative Artists Awards are offered by the Honors College to recognize high school seniors possessing academic excellence and who demonstrate exceptional ability in the creative and performing arts. Theatre and dance awards are awarded to outstanding continuing students in the areas of academic excellence, performance and technical theatre.
Career Opportunities Theatre majors prepare to become directors, playwrights, technicians, designers, performers, producers or business managers in community theatres, educational theatres, professional theatres and community recreational programs. Employment opportunities include work in stage plays, motion pictures, television productions and commercials, corporate entertainment, cruise ships, repertory and summer stock companies and dinner theatres. Theatre majors may also look toward teaching careers by pursuing certification through an appropriate graduate program. Dance majors prepare to become professional dancers in modern dance, jazz and contemporary dance companies. In addition, all dance majors can further their academic education in the areas of performance, dance scholarships, dance therapy and arts administration by pursuing graduate study.
www.kent.edu/theatredance
THEATRE AND DANCE Faculty Twenty full-time faculty members and five to eight part-time instructors teach within the School of Theatre and Dance. The faculty includes teachers, performers, choreographers, designers, researchers, technologists and authors of national renown. Many faculty members have been awarded national recognition for their contributions to the performing arts. Accomplishments include: acting and design work in professional venues such as the Great Lakes Theater Festival, Playhouse Square and Skylight Opera Theatre; choreography and performance with nationally acclaimed dance companies including the Jose Limon Dance Company, the Dallas Black Dance Theatre and The David Gordon/Pick Up Company; the publication of video materials, articles and books, including Staging Social Justice: Collaborating to Create Activist Theatre and projects centered on entertainment arts and technology. The Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance
New and renovated classrooms and laboratories include three dance studios, a lighting laboratory with intelligent lighting, dance rehabilitation studio, acting studios, props and crafts studio and welding laboratory. E. Turner Stump Theatre
The 518-seat, continental-style theatre has housed major productions since 1960. The large trapped stage measures 100 feet by 45 feet with a gridiron height of 65 feet. Movable draperies accommodate both intimate and spectacular production. The Stump complex also includes costume construction and stage areas, production dressing rooms with makeup stations, light and sound control booth and a lobby with a box office. Wright-Curtis Theatre
The 225-seat theatre utilizes movable seating, flexible traps and a catwalk system. The theatre provides multiple vertical levels and acting areas in arena and thrust configurations. ERDMANN ZUCCHERO BLACK BOX THEATRE
The flexible seating theatre seats up to 200 and serves as a multipurpose performance venue for student creative works. Throughout the academic year, theatre and dance students
and faculty members gather in the Black Box Theatre for student-produced work including short presentations of outstanding classroom and experimental work by student dancers, choreographers, actors and directors.
ARMSTRONG FAMILY VISITING ARTIST SERIES
The school invites a different professional choreographer each year to work with dance students, setting choreography and providing workshops.
Porthouse Theatre
Located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center, Porthouse Theatre is Kent State University’s summer professional theatre. Operated by the School of Theatre and Dance, Porthouse Theatre offers unique training opportunities for student actors, designers, technicians and theatre managers to work alongside professionals. Porthouse Theatre presents three productions every summer in its 512-seat covered pavilion thrust theatre. Porthouse Theatre comprises the Kent/Blossom Theatre component of the Kent/Blossom Arts partnership between Kent State University and the Cleveland Orchestra. Theatre and Dance Production
School of Theatre and Dance productions are coordinated with formal coursework in theatre and are directed and designed by students, faculty and guest artists. Students on academic good standing in any major can participate in school productions. Student directors, designers and choreographers are selected by the faculty on the basis of demonstrated ability. Weekly production meetings coordinate the efforts of directors, designers, technicians and management personnel and ensure adherence to the highest production standards. Dance Concerts
Students majoring or minoring in dance are encouraged to audition for the annual faculty dance concert, as well as choreograph and perform in the student concerts. The school regularly hosts visiting professional choreographers. Additionally, the Kent Dance Ensemble offers students a pre-professional dance company experience. Dancers are selected through an audition process. The Kent Dance Ensemble tours Northeast Ohio through the year and performs in a full concert on the Kent Campus each year.
Theatre and Dance Center for the Performing Arts 1325 Theatre Drive Theatre: 330-672-2082 Dance: 330-672-2069 www.kent.edu/theatredance
Admissions Office Kent State University P.O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242-0001 330-672-2444 1-800-988-KENT www.kent.edu/admissions For information on all of Kent State’s degrees and majors, go online to www.kent.edu/gps.
Roe Green Visiting Director Series
The school hosts a different visiting professional director each year to work with students on a theatre production.
Kent State University, Kent State and KSU are registered trademarks and may not be used without permission. Kent State University, an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, is committed to attaining excellence through the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce. PS-4203 5/15
